Giving Back
I learned when I was younger the impact of giving to others and later as an adult the healing effects of giving back to others.
Giving back and helping others is beneficial to the giver as well as the recipient.
Kirsti A. Dyer
Being altruistic, or reaching out to help others in need, not only benefits the person being helped, but practicing altruism also has many health benefits for the person doing the helping. (Read more about the health benefits of altruism at the bottom of the page.)
Altruism is an unselfish concern for the welfare of others. It is a generous way of expressing gratitude for all that you have been given.
The gifts that one receives from giving back to others are immense and priceless.
That warm feeling of being able to do good for someone else is amazing.
Giving Back on Squidoo
Over the 7 years of creating webpages on the Squidoo writing platform, because of their mission to help their writers (lensmasters) raise money for charity, I earned more than $5,500 in direct contributions for the various charities listed below.
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Giving Back in Our Community
As a result of the additional income from the years of writing at Squidoo (now Hubpages) and the launch of the Costume Detective I have been able to give back to our community. I was able to financially support our local teachers, schools and cross country teams and also given back to several community organizations.
We have contributed to MYACT (Mountain Youth and Community Theater), the 4-H Youth Development Program, various 4-H projects, Youth Soccer, Cross Country and Track Teams.
Giving Back with the Costume Detective
Sadly, with the end of Squidoo came with the end of their earning by writing for charity program. This transition brought the chance to explore new ideas and opportunities.
And suddenly you know… it’s time to start something new
and trust the magic of beginnings.
Meister Eckhart
My plan is keep the costume and craft pages alive and available here on The Costume Detective for the thousands who have found the pages on Squidoo. The intent of starting this website is to continue contributing a portion of any proceeds to charity.
The two charities that were chosen to be initial recipients of a portion of our proceeds were “Dog Tags for Kids” and our local children and community theater, MYACT.
Dog Tags for Kids
Dog Tags for Kids is a nonprofit organization that supports the troops and their families by supplying free specially engraved Dog Tags to service members to share with their children at home. I helped make the connections that got Dog Tags for Kids a registered Squidoo charity in 2008. By the time Squidoo ended I had 38 lenses on Squidoo that supported this charity helping children with deployed parents. Sadly, their services are still needed.
MYACT (Mountain Youth and Community Theater)
MYACT (an abbreviation for Mountain Youth and Community Theater) is the local non-profit theater that provide opportunities for children, youth and adults to become involved in theatre, music and dance. Part of the mission of MYACT is to foster educational opportunities for children of different ages and different capabilities.
My daughters were involved with this organization for 5 years. I have seen so many of the children, now teens and young adults benefit from their involvement in this unique opportunities. We have been able to contribute to the scholarship fund and also help contribute directly to several of the students’ fees so they can participate in the program.
Altruism is Good for the Body, Mind and Spirit
Altruism, volunteering, and giving back, eases the stress in the body, which results in these beneficial health factors. Some of the many health benefits of altruism include:
- Possibly strengthening the immune-system.
- A decrease in both the intensity and the awareness of physical pain.
- Activation of the emotions that are vital to the maintaining good health.
- Reduction of the incidence of attitudes, such as chronic hostility, that negatively arouse and damage the body.
- The multiple benefits to the body’s systems provided by stress relief.
- Experiencing a “helper’s high,” a rush of euphoria, followed by a longer period of calm, after performing a kind act.
- This initial rush from the “Helper’s High” is followed by a longer-lasting period of improved emotional well-being.
- Release of the body’s natural painkillers, the endorphins as part of the “Helper’s High.”
Altruism Information History
The information on the Health Benefits of Altrusim was originally published by myself on a Squidoo page, The Health Benefits of Altruism that may still be accessible via web.archive.org
Daisy in Hand by Snickup. Money Jar by aseltz. Both Royalty Free Use from FreeImages.
* Your support helps us support children’s charities. *